From May 1, when Jeremy Rockliff’s new container deposit scheme kicks in, the price of a 30 can block of beer is set to rise by $6.50.

Bottle shop owners are already calling it “Rocky’s Beer Tax”.

The Liberal minority government’s new container deposit scheme is going to be, by far, the most expensive CDS in the country.

Under Rockliff’s poorly designed scheme, the additional cost per aluminium container imposed on suppliers will be just over 21 cents which will be passed onto consumers. The next highest is the ACT at 16 cents and Victoria at 14 cents.

Even if a consumer recycles every can or bottle that will only equate to a refund of $3 – which goes nowhere near the $6.50 increase.

People trying to do the right thing by recycling shouldn’t be harmed by the scheme.

It’s yet another thing that Jeremy Rockliff’s government has taken years to roll out, stuffed up, and then forced Tasmanians to pay for.

Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader